Transition into Tabla

Posted
on August 25, 2016

Lets just begin by saying that almost everything in the world is
connected in some way. Even the body you inhabit contains information in
your DNA that can be traced back to thousands of different ancient
organisms. You’re a codex that links your body to other people and to
the world around you in ways you would never imagine. Scientists say
that humans may harbor more than 100 different genes from other organisms and that’s just what we know so far.

Example of a visual connection between humans and the observable universe.

This evolution over time translates into more than just a series of
coincidences, it builds off one another and grows to change form and
purpose. This concept of evolution also applies to art. Art is known to
evolve in order to portray the history of time and reflect the emotions
of the population. Every famous artistic movement is spurred on by
changing elements in culture and influences. Over time art has been
produced that references historical works but changes them to fit a more
modern narrative. Like Ivica Capan who took a famous painting from Hieronymus Bosch’s The Last Judgement and overlaid it with modern predator drones to comment on unmanned bombings happening overseas.

Ivica Capan | Bosch and Capman | 2009

This constant cycle of re-purposing and
reuse of art can be seen all throughout art history. This also applies
to our own creative process when developing new images, we often build
off of previous work and create something completely different from the
original. Not realizing how much potential there was in a particular
piece of work until we were completely immersed in it. Sometimes the
idea doesn’t become evident until you are halfway through processing the
artwork.

For example, the piece Tabla is the end
result of our evolving process. Just from looking at it you would not
know that it is based off of two previous works on our site. Literate,
seen below, was the first to be reformatted and changed.

Literate | 2015

Our main designer David Diskin used the
colors and textures from Literate and was able to produce Matrix, which
has a completely different composition when compared to its predecessor.
Matrix may use Literate’s colors but it has a completely different
feeling, more rigid and structured when compared to Literate’s smooth
painted textures and wavy free-flowing forms.

Matrix | 2016

Then by using the lines from Matrix and
transforming them into waves we were able to produce Tabla. Tabla is a
reflection of digital percussion and Bhangra music. The definition of
Tabla itself being a pair of small hand drums attached together, used in
Indian music; played using pressure from the heel of the hand to vary
the pitch. The name and idea came to our main designer when he was
reminded of the instrument and the percussion beat it produces.

Tabla | 2016

Art is a human connection on its own but when you start seeing the
evolution of someones artwork transform over time it gives you a whole
new perspective. Combined with the knowledge that everything is
interconnected and related makes it just that much more incredible.
Every piece descending from the last, like a very artistic family tree.